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Capistrano Unified School District conducts surfing classes for students at Salt Creek Beach throughout the school year. The beach remains open to the public during these times. Please see the link below for days and times the beach may be affected.

OC Parks is initiating a new firewood policy designed to reduce the risk of damaging Orange County’s oak and sycamore woodlands and other trees from invasive pests.

Effective today, visitors to OC Parks’ two camping parks, Caspers Wilderness Park and O’Neill Regional Park, may no longer bring or burn outside firewood, unless it is commercially produced, heat treated and labeled “Pest Free” or “Safe to Move.” This is due to highly invasive and destructive non-native insects that could travel in firewood and decimate local tree populations.

On Saturday, Feb. 3, the following trails will be closed from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m. for a mountain bike event: Dreaded Hill Road, Cactus Hill Trail, Santiago Ranch Road, Vulture View Road, Sage Scrub Trail, the eastern portion of Line Shack Road and Serrano Cow. For more information, or to register, visit Nondotadventures.com.

Santiago Oaks and Peters Canyon regional parks, as well as exterior trails at Irvine Regional Park, will be closed as of 12 p.m. Current weather forecasts show heavy rain expected in Canyon Fire 2 burn areas, which pose the risk of mud and debris flows. While OC Parks has taken measures to reduce the risk, debris flows may still occur. Please stay out of closed areas for your safety.

Beginning Monday, January 22, 2018, the County of Orange will temporarily close a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) from Memory Lane in Orange to Taft Avenue/Ball Road in Anaheim for an environmental remediation project. Upon completion of the project, estimated to last up to three months, the County will reopen the closed portion of the SART for recreational trail use during posted public access hours.

Starting Jan. 22 through late February, OC Public Works will complete a rehabilitation of the Upper Newport Bay parking lot. The rehabilitation includes removing existing decomposed granite and replacing it with sand-colored pervious concrete, installing wheel stops, and striping parking stalls.

The parking lot will be closed at all times for the duration of the construction period, including weekends.Park users should plan to park at alternative locations. OC Public Works will install an electronic message board at the parking lot entrance two weeks prior to construction to notify park users.

(Dana Point, Calif.) – Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, the County of Orange, OC Parks and Dana Point Harbor invite families to celebrate the season with "A Superhero Holiday" at the 43rd Annual Boat Parade of Lights. Enjoy jolly activities with a superhero twist on select dates December 8-16 by the water’s edge.

(Dana Point, Calif.) – The County of Orange, OC Parks and Dana Point Harbor invite families to the first ever Merry Movie Night at Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor on Saturday, December 2. Festive activities begin at 3:30 and the family-friendly holiday film "Elf" begins at 5:15 p.m.

OC Public Works will construct a new access road and restore a parking lot on County-owned land adjacent to Hangmans Tree Road and Santiago Canyon Road. The work will replace infrastructure that was damaged during past storm events. Construction expected December 2017 through March 2018.

Capistrano Unified School District conducts surfing classes for students at Salt Creek Beach throughout the school year. The beach remains open to the public during these times. Please see the link below for days and times the beach may be affected.

The clocks fall back early Nov. 5, marking the end of daylight saving time and OC Parks’ spring-summer operating schedule. Most regional parks close at 6 p.m. for the fall and winter, and wilderness parks close at sunset.

The Canyon Fire 2 swept through eastern Orange County this week, burning extensively into multiple County parks, closing three regional parks at least through Monday.

Irvine Regional Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park and Santiago Oaks Regional Park still have numerous hot spots, weakened trees and other hazards that make them unsafe to enter without proper precautions. Active flare ups continued to plague the parks as late as Friday morning, and fire weather conditions are expected Saturday through midday Sunday.

Of the more than 9,000 acres estimated damaged in the Canyon Fire 2, the large majority are within four primary OC Parks regional properties: Irvine Regional Park, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park, and Irvine Ranch Open Space. Other facilities, including several regional trail segments, are also damaged.

Come see Carbon Canyon Regional Park in a completely different setting - in the dark! Park rangers will lead starlit hikes showcasing the natural wonders that can onlybe seen at night. The night hikes will feature many funactivities.

OC Public Works will be making repairs on the east bluff adjacent to Back Bay Drive. Back Bay Drive will be open to the public during construction, except during a two -week period in September 2017 when the road will be closed to vehicular traffic. Pedestrians and bicyclists may continue to use the trail during that time in adherence to safety flag person

Join OC Parks, the Newport Bay Conservancy, and thousands of other volunteers across California for Coastal Cleanup Day 2017! We will be cleaning up the bay and surrounding areas by picking up trash and debris. Bring, hats, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, and a reusable bag or bucket. Rubber boots or water shoes are also recommended.

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch in Orange County is fun for the entire family. Come out and enjoy the many activities for kids of all ages. The Pumpkin Patch is located just behind the train station and admission is FREE. Please note that a gate entrance fee will be charged by the County of Orange for each vehicle that enters Irvine Regional Park.

Improvements to the entry of Aliso Wood and Canyons Wilderness Park will enter their next phase, after the Board of Supervisors on August 8 approved a contract to build a new visitor center.

The park’s 4,500 acres of coastal canyons, grasslands and oak and sycamore woodlands, represent one of the most pristine remaining natural areas in Orange County. The recently completed, award-winning enhancements to the park’s main entrance provide a staging area for hikers, bikers and equestrians to start their journey into the park. The next phase of improvements to the main entry include a visitor center, restrooms and park staff offices.

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, the County of Orange and OC Parks in partnership with Ocean Institute, invite the community to celebrate California’s rich maritime history during the Ocean Institute’s Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point Harbor. Gather friends and family for three days of events Friday, September 8 – Sunday, September 10 and experience the ultimate seaside adventure!

Between August 7 and August 18, the Nature Communities Coalition, in collaboration with OC Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and The Nature Conservancy will conduct an aerial weed survey during daylight hours using a small, low-flying helicopter to document and map the distribution of over 30 weed species located within selected inland parks and open space areas.

Parks to be surveyed are the Irvine Ranch Open Space, Irvine Regional Park and Santiago Oaks Regional Park.

OC Public Works will begin repairs on the Bay View Bridge at Upper Newport Bay located within the City of Newport Beach. Portions of the Brown/Bay View trail will be temporarily closed from July 31 to Sept. 15, 2017 for construction activities.

OC Public Works will continue work on rehabilitating the Awma Road Bridge in the Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park July 21 and July 25-28. Work includes repairing asphalt surfaces, applying wood preservative to the support beams, repairing the side retaining wall, and reattaching the existing iron fence.

Our OC Parks are important to our communities. This brief questionnaire is your opportunity to let the County of Orange know your thoughts about our parks. What is working? What would you love to see more of in your OC parks?

Your feedback is valuable, and your individual responses will be kept confidential. KH Consulting Group (KH) will use your input to help us shape OC Parks' strategic plan to make your parks and community even better!

Here is the link to the questionnaire (English, Spanish, and Vietnamese):

OC Public Works will be gradually releasing large amounts of water from behind Villa Park Dam into Santiago Creek located within Santiago Oaks Regional Park.

Timing: Beginning Sunday, May 14th, 2017 and continuing for approximately two weeks

Work Hours: 9 p.m. through 4 a.m.

Note: The release will take place after the park is closed and all trail access points within the park will re-open during normal operating hours the next day. The water release is scheduled to stop early in the morning to allow for proper drainage.

As part of ongoing flood control maintenance, the release of water is necessary to reduce the potential for flooding. Project safety measures will be in place to ensure the safety of the public. Staff will also be on site until the project is complete. The public is advised to avoid the project area during active water releases.

The Old Orange County Courthouse will host Segerstrom Pioneering Spirit: The American Dream from April 25 to July 14, spotlighting the Segerstrom family's influence on Orange County.

The show will showcase imagery from the Segerstrom family archives and Ruth Ann Moriarty's archives. The exhibition tells the story of the Segerstrom family's journey from Sweden to the United States, and their subsequent accomplishments and achievements developing Orange County -- both commercially and civilly -- into the international destination it is today.

The clocks spring forward early March 12, marking the beginning of daylight saving time and OC Parks’ spring-summer operating schedule. Most regional parks close at 9 p.m. for the spring and summer, and wilderness parks close at sunset.

On Thursday, March 2, the County of Orange / OC Parks will provide aerial hydromulch and seeding application to a 5-acre landslide area within the Los Trancos section of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. The specific area for this project is east of Newport Coast Drive and south of Pelican Hill Road / Ocean Ridge Drive.

Hydromulching, or hydroseeding, is a planting process that involves spraying a mix of seed and mulch. It is often used as an erosion control technique rather than the traditional process of broadcasting or sowing dry seed. The seed mix will consist of native plants common to the area and will assist with reducing erosion with native plant restoration within the landslide area. The project will use a Bell helicopter, hydromulch mixing truck, support vehicle and trailer, as well as a hydromulch spreader bucket.

The work should take no more than one day and will be postponed if rain occurs.

We ask for the public’s cooperation to stay out of the area during that time.

Capistrano Unified School District conducts surfing classes for students at Salt Creek Beach throughout the school year. The beach remains open to the public during these times. Please see the link below for days and times the beach may be affected.

The County of Orange and OC Parks are pleased to welcome the inaugural Babychella Family Art & Music Festival at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on Sunday, March 12 from 12 – 4 p.m. This free, family-friendly event invites parents and children to enjoy entertainment and activities in the park’s picturesque springtime setting.

The County of Orange, Calif. is issuing this Request for Proposals to solicit responses from qualified individuals or business entities to operate and manage two County-owned facilities under the terms of a Ground Lease.

The two facilities offered for Lease are a facility located within the Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel overlooking Sulphur Creek Reservoir and a facility located in Aliso Beach Park, Laguna Beach overlooking the ocean. The intent of this RFP is to seek Proposers who possess the qualifications, experience, and expertise necessary to successfully develop and operate a business on one or both Concession Sites.

Ortega Highway (74) is closed in both directions until further notice due to storm damage. Caspers Wilderness Park will be closed for the duration of the road closure, but rangers will continue to patrol the park.

If you have questions about camping reservations, call the park at (949) 923-2210. For information about the road closure, please visit the Caltrans website.

OC Parks is aware of a strong odor from a lake at Mile Square Golf Course. We have been working with the lessee that operates the golf course to resolve the issue, and after some improvement late last week, the odor has returned. While the odor is unpleasant, it does not present a danger to the public. We are continuing to work with the golf course operator to permanently fix the problem as quickly as possible.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Mile Square Golf Course at (714) 962-5541; when prompted press #1 for the Pro Shop.

The clocks fall back early Nov. 6, marking the end of daylight saving time and OC Parks’ spring-summer operating schedule. Most regional parks close at 6 p.m. for the fall and winter, and wilderness parks close at sunset.

OC Parks rangers and game wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife continued their investigations throughout the weekend and found no further evidence of mountain lion activity in either park. State wildlife officials recommended Tuesday that the parks resume regular operations at that time.

Both parks reopened, but visitors are advised to remain alert to potential hazards in these parks and whenever visiting wilderness areas.

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and day use areas in the western end of O’Neill Regional Park were closed Friday for a mountain lion investigation and will remain closed until further notice.

Park visitors reported multiple mountain lion sightings at O'Neill Regional Park Thursday evening and OC Parks rangers conducted an investigation. Friday morning, wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife joined the investigation and recommended closing the area as a precaution.

Visitors to all wilderness areas should always remain alert to potential hazards and report any sightings to the park office at (949) 923-2260. If you encounter a mountain lion, make yourself look large, make noise, throw rocks and do not turn your back to the animal or run.

Please see the mountain lion flier on our website for information about what to do if you encounter one.

Rangers at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park received three reports of mountain lion sightings at the park on Monday, Sept. 19. Rangers and game wardens investigated all the sightings. Rangers have placed warning signs at the park and continue to patrol the area.

Visitors to all wilderness areas should always remain alert to potential hazards and report any sightings to the park office at (949) 923-2245.

Capistrano Unified School District conducts surfing classes for students at Salt Creek Beach throughout the school year. The beach remains open to the public during these times. Please see the link below for days and times the beach may be affected.

The OC Parks mobile application is now available to download. The new app makes it easy to explore all that the County regional and wilderness parks have to offer.

Using the OC Parks app for iOS or Android, you can easily get outside and find a park near you with the most detailed, accurate maps of all regional, wilderness, beach and historic parks and regional trails operated by the County of Orange. The app also offers detailed park descriptions and photos.

Starting in August, hikers will be collecting imagery of Orange County trails using the Google Street View Trekker, a wearable backpack with a camera system on top. The Trekker automatically gathers images as it goes. Later the imagery will be stitched together to create the 360-degree panoramas you see today in Google Maps.

With over 100 items from the legendary 1964 documentary – including Bruce Brown’s cameras, tape recorder, projector, editing table, Robert August’s passport, matching trunks and jacket, original photos and sketches, and foreign and domestic movie posters – this exhibit at the Old Orange County Courthouse is the definitive collection associated with surfing’s most iconic movie.

Beginning July 18, 2016, Awma Road will be open to two-way traffic, and all vehicles parking at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park must enter and exit from Alicia Parkway.

Awma Road vehicle traffic will have access to the park and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 28291 Alicia Parkway. Vehicle traffic will not be able to access the parking lot or church through Wood Canyon Drive and Knollwood.

A gate on Awma Road at Knollwood will allow through traffic for pedestrians, bicycles and emergency vehicles only.

(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Volunteers who mentor many of Orange County’s neediest children will have free parking at County regional, wilderness and beach parks, thanks to a new program with OC Parks and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA) designed to get those children outside.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors today approved a Memorandum of Understanding with CASA that provides their volunteer advocates with OC Parks annual passes free of charge. CASA is a nonprofit organization that provides children in care with trained volunteer mentors to advocate for their best interests.

“This agreement allows CASA volunteers to provide positive outdoor experiences in our County parks to children who have been abused and neglected,” Lisa Bartlett, Chairwoman for the Orange County Board of Supervisors, said.

Between June 18 to June 24 and July 5 to July 12, the Nature Communities Coalition (NCC), in collaboration with OC Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and The Nature Conservancy will conduct an aerial weed survey during daylight hours using a small, low-flying helicopter to document and map the distribution of over 30 weed species located within selected inland parks and open space areas.

Whiting Ranch, Irvine, Santiago Oaks, Irvine Ranch Open Space and Peters Canyon will be included in the survey.

The resulting information will provide details about the abundance and distribution of invasive weeds and help land managers evaluate the effectiveness of current weed monitoring practices, identify emerging weed problems, and strategically plan future weed management actions.

The County of Orange and OC Parks welcome back the annual outdoor summer concert series with 10 free concerts at Craig Regional Park, Tri-City Regional Park, Mason Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park and Salt Creek Beach. Each concert event will offer free live music under the summer sky on Thursday evenings June 30 through September 1.

The new East Sinks Viewing Deck, which boasts stunning vistas of Orange County’s very own “mini Grand Canyon,” is now open for visitors after a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 3 in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer and OC Parks staff were joined by hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and volunteers in dedicating the new deck, which is the second platform overlooking The Sinks.

Significant traffic on unauthorized trails has caused damage in the Ladera Ridge (Las Flores) area of the park. This area is closed, and in the interest of protecting the valuable natural resources found on both County and the Rancho Mission Viejo Reserve, measures will be taken to prevent further destruction.

Many County regional parks are expecting large crowds March 27 and April 3 due to Easter and Persian New Year.

Easter, which falls on March 27 this year, is typically one of the busiest holidays at all OC Parks regional parks, and particularly Irvine and Mile Square regional parks. Persian New Year, April 3, also draws large crowds to Mason and Laguna Niguel regional parks.

On these holidays, these parks fill to parking capacity very early in the day. Once this happens, visitors must find other legal parking outside of the parks and walk in.

Capistrano Unified School District conducts surfing classes for students at Salt Creek Beach throughout the school year. The beach remains open to the public during these times. Please see the link below for days and times the beach may be affected.

The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) is an invasive beetle that attacks common native and landscape trees, leading to branch dieback and overall decline. This can have a devastating effect on local trees, and you may see some being treated or removed in County parks.

The clocks fall back early Nov. 1, marking the end of daylight saving time and OC Parks’ spring-summer operating schedule. Wilderness parks close at sunset and most regional parks close at 6 p.m. for the fall and winter.

Exterior preservation of the landmark Old Orange County Courthouse is taking place the week of Sept. 21. This work is the first significant maintenance and repair of the iconic building’s distinctive sandstone cladding in nearly 30 years.

The project includes maintenance of the granite base and wood windows. This first phase focuses on the building’s south façade, including the highly ornate, colonnaded entry that is a favorite backdrop for wedding photographs.

Irvine Park Railroad’s 10th annual Pumpkin Patch is fun for the entire family! Children and adults are invited to the Pumpkin Patch which is open daily at 10 a.m., beginning September 19 through October 31.

Capistrano Unified School District conducts surfing classes for students at Salt Creek Beach throughout the school year. The beach remains open to the public during these times. Please see the links below for days and times the beach may be affected.

OC Parks in partnership with the UC Irvine Vietnamese American Oral History Project (VAOHP) present this 8-month art and history exhibition in the historic gallery of the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana from July 2015 to February 2016.

Many people enjoy celebrating July 4 at OC Parks, and with the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, even more people may visit. Planning your visit ahead of time and knowing the rules can help make for a more enjoyable holiday.

Most importantly, fireworks are not permitted at County parks on July 4 or any other day.

Expect increased crowds at parks, particularly regional parks. Parking lots may fill early, and once they do no additional vehicles will be permitted in the park. All shelters will be available only on a first-come, first-served basis and one person must be present at all times to hold the shelter. No reservations are accepted for July 4.

OC Parks will hold its second public workshop for the Habitat Restoration Plan of Talbert Regional Park on Thursday, June 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center located at 1845 Park Avenue in Costa Mesa. Parking is available outside the Community Center. OC Parks’ consultants for the Habitat Restoration Plan will be facilitating the workshop with the team of experts developing this plan.

Only one week left to see “The Courage to Remember: The Holocaust 1933 – 1945” created by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. This exhibit explores the Holocaust during the Second World War. With nearly 200 original photographs, many never seen before by the general public, it has been viewed in dozens of countries across six continents. It is in the exhibit gallery on the third floor of the Old Orange County Courthouse until May 1.

The first thing to know about hiking or riding in the wilderness is that it is very different than walking around the block or even in your neighborhood park. The excitement and beauty of hitting the trails is what draws people outdoors, but being prepared is key to a positive experience. Here are some tips that will get you off on the right foot.

There are more snakes being seen out on the trails, and these sightings coincide with the time of year that snakes come out of a kind of hibernation. Being aware of this springtime activity, as well as some basic snake safety tips, helps people and wildlife coexist on the land. The number one thing to remember? Leave the snakes alone, and they will return the favor.

Easter is one of the busiest days of the year at regional parks. Parking lots fill very early in the morning and additional vehicles may not be brought into parks that have reached parking capacity. Parking fees for some regional parks will increase to $7 for Easter Sunday, April 5.

Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB), an invasive beetle that has killed thousands of oak trees in San Diego and Riverside counties in a short span of time, has now been detected in Orange County. The GSOB was discovered in approximately 60 trees on County park land in northern Orange County. Since GSOB is transported in oak firewood, it is critical that Californians keep firewood local and not move it out of the area.

OC Parks is pleased to introduce new parking passes that will allow visitors to use a single card to park at all County regional and wilderness parks and/or beaches.

The new “smart cards” replace the entry cards and stickers that were previously used for annual parking. Unlike the previous OC Parks passes, which were fixed to a calendar year (January through December), these smart cards are valid for 12 months from issue date and can be renewed annually. Moreover, for wilderness and beach locations which previously required a sticker affixed to a visitor’s windshield, these passes can be used with any vehicle. The price for the new cards remains the same as 2014.

Today the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to accept 2,500 acres of open space, donated by the Irvine Company to the County for preservation and public recreation. The donation provides additional connectivity to the 20,000 acres the Irvine Company donated to the County in 2010, which marked the largest single donation of land to the County in its history. The land accepted today was previously slated for construction of approximately 5,000 homes.

Seaweed, Salmon, and Manzanita Cider: A California Indian Feast is a statewide traveling exhibition from the Grace Hudson Museum and Exhibit Envoy filled with historic and contemporary photographs, food specimens, memoirs, and recipes.

The exhibit, which opens atOld Orange County Courthouse on Oct. 27 and runs through Dec. 20, 2014, features foods important in the lives of Native Californians including fish, shellfish, seaweed, meat, vegetables, berries, fruits, flowers, nuts, seeds and salt.

Lake construction is now complete and cleanup of the surrounding area is currently underway. Damaged grass will be replaced with new sod as the lake is being refilled. The refilling of the lake should take approximately one week. Once the lake has been refilled, the water will need to sit for a month for the brand new lake to reach a balance in the environment. Upon this balance being completed, OC Parks will introduce fish habitats into the lake and an aeration system will be installed to ensure proper oxygenation of the water for an optimum fish environment.

Oct. 4-5, 2014 OC Parks is hosting the Battle of the Paddle at Salt Creek Beach. This is a large stand up paddle board event. The Salt Creek parking lot will have limited or no parking from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 to accommodate the event. On event days there will be free shuttles from the Selva parking lot.

In 2010, OC Parks accepted a gift or 20,000 acres of open space from the Irvine Company. These special, protected wildlands, known as the Irvine Ranch Open Space, are operated by OC Parks, with public programs and activities available through the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

OC Parks will hold its first public workshop for the Habitat Restoration Plan of Talbert Regional Park on Wednesday Sept. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center located at 1845 Park Avenue in Costa Mesa. Parking is available outside the Community Center. OC Parks’ consultants for the Habitat Restoration Plan will be facilitating the workshop with the team of experts developing this plan.

On July 14, 2014, preparation began to restore Carbon Canyon Regional Park’s 4-acre lake to its original condition. Currently, the lake has diminished water quality and reduced capacity preventing it from being stocked with fish to provide recreational fishing opportunities by park visitors.

The excavation of the lake involves manually draining the lake of its water to allow heavy equipment to remove the soil. A 6-foot temporary fence will be placed around the perimeter of the lake to secure the project and to ensure the public’s safety.

With the help of non-profit organizations, members of the public and community groups, OC Parks has re-opened the Emerald Canyon Trail. The trail was closed due to extensive damage sustained after heavy rains in 2010. The trail reconstruction included constructing a 60-foot bridge over a landslide area.

The Santa Ana River Trail will have detours and a possible closure on Saturday, June 14 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Santa Ana River Trail and Bikeway closest to the Angel Stadium and the Honda Center will be subject to the highest impact for all trail users in the city of Anaheim.

UCI’s commencement ceremony will taking place at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim Saturday. Heavy traffic is also predicted in the area. Please choose an alternative location to enjoy the Santa Ana River this Saturday.

OC Parks and the Yosemite Conservancy invite you to watch Ken Burns’ Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, a documentary film produced to honor the 150th anniversaryof the landmark federal act signed by Abraham Lincoln that preserved Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

April 12, 2014
Orange County Crime Victims’ Monument Unveiling of Selected Design and Program

The Orange County Board of Supervisors and OC Parks invite you to a tribute to all crime victims. The event will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and the winning design for the Orange County Crime Victims’ Monument will be announced.

The public is invited to attend a program commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week on Saturday April 12, where the winner of the Orange County Crime Victims’ Monument Design Contest will be announced. The design competition was sponsored by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and OC Parks. The program begins at 10 a.m. at Mason Regional Park in Irvine.

A critical water line replacement project at Caspers Wilderness Park is scheduled to begin in June 2014 and last until November 2014. During this time, amenities including flushing toilets, showers, and drinking water may be unavailable. Portable toilets and wash stations will be available throughout the park. For more information, please contact the park office at (949) 923-2210.

The Easter Bunny is coming to Irvine Park Railroad March 29 through April 19 for its annual Easter Eggstravaganza. Children and adults can ride the train through beautiful Irvine Regional Park. And, children ages 2 through 12 can participate in an Easter egg hunt. Each egg will be filled with candy or a prize.

March 8 take a trip back in time with Irvine Park Railroad’s 2014 Fourth Grade California History Education Program. This fun program – created by teachers, for teachers - is a hands-on learning experience and meets the State of California curriculum requirements for fourth grade history/social science. Parents and kids can experience this fun-filled field trip on this public day. Clik the link for details. By reservation only.

Recently discovered, dynamic, vibrant color images of California and Mexico taken during the 1940s and 1950s by the late visionary photographer Paul Outerbridge, who was considered “a master of color photography,” will be on display in an upcoming exhibit at the Old Orange County Courthouse.

Sponsored by OC Parks, Paul Outerbridge: New Color Photographs from Mexico and California, 1948-1955 comes to the historic courthouse’s third-floor gallery at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd. in Santa Ana from January 13 through March 21.This is only the second time the collection has been exhibited in Southern California.

OC Parks annual passes and decals offer convenient parking at your favorite regional and wilderness parks, as well as all County beach parks. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking, exploring, surfing or rest and relaxation in nature with simple pre-paid parking at all locations. An OC Parks Pass makes for the perfect gift for the outdoor and adventurous friends and family members in your life.

OC Parks has partnered with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) for the countywide Red Ribbon Week; free weekend entrance on October 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 2013 for students wearing a red Drug Use is Life Abuse wristband. Click the link for a full list of facilities participating.

On Saturday, September 7, at 11 a.m., Angels catcher Hank Conger will make a special appearance at the OC Zoo and all visitors wearing Angels gear will receive free admission. In addition, all visitors wearing Angels gear will get two-for-one rides on the train at Irvine Park Railroad. Both offers are good for the entire day.

Lanes on the Ortega Highway bridge over the I-5 freeway are reduced to two lanes in either direction in preparation for upcoming demolition activities on the south half of the bridge. Traffic near Caspers Wilderness Park may be impacted.

County regional parks are expecting large crowds on Sunday, March 31 due to two coinciding holidays.

Two of the busiest holidays each year – Easter and Persian New Year – both fall on March 31 this year. This will likely fill regional parks to parking capacity very early in the day. Once this happens, visitors must find other legal parking outside of the parks.

Go green and celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day holiday with OC Parks. O’Neill Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park, OC Zoo and Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve are all presenting themed special events on March 17 to get you into the Irish spirit.

OC Parks will be working on campus plan improvements at their headquarters inside Irvine Ranch Historic Park in Irvine.

On January 29, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved the project’s plans and specifications, and the list of contractors who prequalified to bid on the preservation work. The Board authorized OC Parks to solicit bids per the attached notice inviting bids.

OC Parks is currently working to remove approximately 25 acres of invasive Arundo vegetation along a 3.7 mile section of Aliso Creek. This project will also allow for re-propagation of existing native plants, improve water quality, and reduce the risk of flooding and fire. This is one of several projects to completely remove Arundo and other invasive plants from the Aliso Creek watershed.

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